WASHINGTON -- The Federal
Election Commission is making public 13 additional cases resolved
in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program. This brings to 78
the total number of cases released thus far. The programs goal is to expedite
resolution of some enforcement matters, reduce the cost of processing complaints, and
enhance overall FEC enforcement. Closed ADR negotiated settlement summaries are available
in the FECs Press and Public Records offices.

For a case to be considered for ADR
treatment, a respondent must express willingness to engage in the ADR process, agree to
set aside the statute of limitations while the case is pending in the ADR Office, and
agree to participate in bilateral negotiations and, if necessary, mediation.

Bilateral negotiations through ADR are oriented toward reaching an expedient resolution
with a mutually agreeable settlement that is both satisfying to the respondent(s) and in
compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). Resolutions reached through
direct and, when necessary, mediated negotiations are submitted to the Commissioners for
final approval. If a resolution is not reached in bilateral negotiation, the case proceeds
by mutual agreement to mediation. It should be noted that cases resolved through ADR are
not precedential.

1.

ADR 081

RESPONDENTS:

Dutch Ruppersberger for Congress, David Deger,
treasurer

C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger

SOURCE:

MUR 5267: Oz Bengur

SUBJECT:

Use of non-federal funds to purchase materials
for federal election campaign

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

Respondents, in an effort to resolve this
matter, agree to appoint a Federal Election Commission (FEC) compliance officer and have a
staff person attend an FEC sponsored seminar with 12 months of the effective date of this
agreement.

2.

ADR 084

RESPONDENT:

Ross for Congress, Veronica McLeod, treasurer

SOURCE:

FEC Initiated (RAD)

SUBJECT:

Failure to disclose loan information; failure to
file Schedule C-1; failure to clarify whether the candidate used personal funds or
borrowed the money for the loan from another source

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

Respondents, in effort to resolve this matter,
agree to work with the FEC staff to file amended reports, in order to terminate the
committee.

3.

ADR 088

RESPONDENT:

Mark Fleisher

SOURCE:

MUR 5291: Maureen T. Schneider

SUBJECT:

Failure to register and report timely

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

Respondents, in effort to resolve this matter,
acknowledge that the Statement of Candidacy was not filed timely and accept admonishment
for the late filing. Regarding the matter that respondents exceeded the reporting
threshold, the ADR office concludes, based on a review of documents, that the allegation
is unsubstantiated. The ADR Office has determined that the aforementioned resolutions
conclude this matter and the Commission concurs by dismissing this matter.

4.

ADR 093

RESPONDENTS:

Jeff Ballenger for Congress Committee, M.
Eastman Chance, treasurer

SOURCE:

FEC Initiated (RAD)

SUBJECT:

Failure to provide a signed Schedule C-1 for one
loan reported as from a lending institution and to clarify the source of one loan reported
from the candidate

SETTLEMENT:

The ADR Office recommends the case be closed and
the Commission agrees to close the file.

5.

ADR 103

RESPONDENTS:

Committee to Elect Lindsey Graham, Neil Byerley,
treasurer

SOURCE:

FEC Initiated (Audit)

SUBJECT:

Excessive contributions

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

$1,000 civil penalty

Respondents acknowledge
that a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) occurred and of learning of
the prohibited contributions, issued refunds of all excessive contributions, with
exception of $810 which was disgorged to the U.S. Treasury. In addition, the respondents
sent committee staff to an FEC seminar on campaign finance in February 2003, instituted
new procedures for recording and reporting campaign finances, and in further effort to
avoid similar errors in the future agree to appoint an FEC Compliance Officer.

Respondents acknowledged the requirement to
register and subsequently did register with the Commission and filed the appropriate
Statement of Organization. In order to resolve this matter and avoid similar errors in the
future the respondent agrees to select an appropriate representative to attend a FEC
sponsored workshop within 12 months of the effective date of this agreement and set-up and
maintain in their office permanent files with copies of federal election laws, regulations
and guidelines regarding FEC-related activity.

7.

ADR 107

RESPONDENTS:

Sean Mahoney for Congress, James McKay,
assistant treasurer

SOURCE:

FEC Initiated (RAD)

SUBJECT:

Failure to accurately disclose loans

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

Respondents, in an effort to resolve this matter
and avoid similar errors in the future agree to amend reports previously filed with the
Commission and to put in place procedures to avoid similar reporting errors and select an
appropriate representative of the Committee to attend a FEC sponsored workshop on federal
election campaign laws and regulations within 12 months of the effective date of this
agreement.

8.

ADR 108

RESPONDENTS:

Leelanau County Democratic Committee, John C.
Dick, treasurer

SOURCE:

MUR5309: Rusty Hills, on behalf of the Michigan
Republican State Committee

SUBJECT:

Failure to register

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

Respondents acknowledge that they violated the
FECA when they failed to register with the Commission. In order to resolve this matter and
avoid violating federal election campaign regulations in the future, they agree to
complete the process of registering the committee with the Commission, establish and
maintain in their offices a file on FEC regulations to provide guidance to the committee
on matters pertaining to federal election campaign activity, and attend a FEC sponsored
workshop on federal campaign regulations within 12 months of the effective date of this
agreement.

9.

ADR 113

(a) Phelps for Congress, Todd Stonewater,
treasurer

(b) David Phelps

(c) Great Ideas for Advertising, Inc.

(d) Larys Electric

(e) Diefenbach Construction

(f) Arclay Company, LLC

(g) Medicap Pharmacy

(h) Kevin Davis

SOURCE:

National Republican Congressional Committee

SUBJECT:

Corporate contributions; excessive contribution

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

(a-b) $300 civil penalty

Respondents
acknowledge that a violation of the FECA occurred during the tenure of a previous
treasurer. On learning of the prohibited and excessive contributions, the current
treasurer refunded the contributions. The Respondents agree to terminate the Phelps for
Congress Committee.

(c) Respondent acknowledges that a violation occurred and on learning of the prohibited
contributions, secured a refund of the contribution. In an effort to avoid similar errors
in the future, respondent agrees to circulate a memorandum to all corporate officers and
staff concerning the prohibition against contributions or expenditures in connections with
any election to any political office by corporations.

(d-h) The ADR Office recommends dismissal of this matter and the Commission agrees.

10.

ADR 114

RESPONDENTS:

Clinton Township Democratic Club, Judith L.
Strong, treasurer

SOURCE:

MUR 5306: Rusty Hills, on behalf of the Michigan
Republican State Committee

SUBJECT:

Failure to file campaign finance reports

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

$500 civil penalty

Respondents acknowledge
that they violated FECA by failing to file the required financial reports. In order to
resolve this matter and avoid violating federal election campaign regulations in the
future, they agree to hire an accountant familiar with reporting requirements of the
regulations to regularly review the records and reports and to select and send an
appropriate representative to a FEC sponsored workshop on federal campaign reporting
requirements within 12 months of the effective date of this agreement.

In order to conclude
this matter, respondents acknowledge accepting the subject contribution and refunding the
excess portion to the contributor after the 30-day period required in the regulations,
agree to attend FEC sponsored seminar for candidate committees within 12 months and file
for termination in accordance with the FECA.

(b) $500 civil penalty

Respondent, in order to resolve this matter and avoid violating federal election
campaign regulations in the future agrees to select a committee representative to attend a
FEC sponsored workshop on federal campaign regulations within 12 months and to establish
and maintain in its offices a file on FEC regulations to provide guidance to the committee
matters pertaining to federal election campaign activity including material governing
committee contributions to federal election campaigns.

MUR 5329: Margaret Cartier, on behalf of the Ted
Strickland for Congress Committee

SUBJECT:

Excessive contribution

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

(a) A review of Respondents reports filed
with the Commission confirms that the subject contribution was refunded to the contributor
within 30-days as required in the Commissions regulations. Based on that review, the
ADR Office concludes that the alleged violation of the FECA is unsubstantiated. The
Commission concurs by dismissing this matter.

(b) $200 civil penalty

The Respondent acknowledges that when it contributed to Halleck for Congress Committee
it exceeded the contribution limits prescribed in the Act. In order to resolve this matter
and avoid violating federal election campaign regulations in the future, respondents agree
to establish and maintain, in its offices, a file on FEC regulations to provide guidance
to the Club on matters pertaining to federal election campaign activity including material
governing committee contributions to federal election campaigns.

13.

ADR 123

RESPONDENTS:

Hagelin 2000 Committee, Blanche Woodward,
treasurer

SOURCE:

FEC Initiated (Audit)

SUBJECT:

Corporate contribution; excessive contributions

NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT:

Respondents, in order to resolve these issues,
agree to acknowledge the errors that contributed to the audit findings and the
admonishment conveyed in this statement and complete reports filed with the Commission
prior to terminating and file for termination in accordance with the provision of the
FECA.